familyhttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/409/all
enNew App Recap 12/1/14: Mega Photo, FingerKey, and more!http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/new-app-recap-12114-mega-photo-fingerkey
<!--paging_filter-->http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/new-app-recap-12114-mega-photo-fingerkey#commentsGalleryAppLifeAppsfamilyiOSmedicalPhotosscreenshotssocial networkingTouch IDtraveliPadiPhoneiPodMon, 01 Dec 2014 23:06:36 +0000J.R. Bookwalter21012 at http://www.maclife.comCinch Grinch Aims to Make Last-Minute Gifts for Loved Ones a Snaphttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/cinch_grinch_aims_make_lastminute_gifts_loved_ones_snap
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/cinch_grinch_update_620px.png" alt="Cinch Grinch" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>It's nearly a week before Christmas and you're still trying to find gifts for your family members? Last-minute gift giving gets a boost this year thanks to the debut of Cinch Grinch.<br /><br /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cinch-great-advice/id692198647?ls=1&amp;mt=8" target="_blank">Klout released an update to its Cinch app for iPhone this week</a>, adding a new feature called "Cinch Grinch" which offers a free way to find gifts for loved ones this holiday season.<br /><br />Featuring the popular Dr. Seuss character of the same name, Cinch Grinch offers targeted advice for last-minute gift buying. Tell the app who you're buying for and their areas of interest along with how much you're willing to spend on them, and the feature will serve up a personal recommendation for the ideal present.<br /><br />While Cinch Grinch may be new for the holidays, the free Cinch by Klout app for iPhone offers up advice all year round -- just ask the app a question and it will offer back suggestions from the people who know best.<br /><br /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cinch-great-advice/id692198647?ls=1&amp;mt=8" target="_blank">Cinch 1.4</a> is now available as a free download from the App Store and requires iOS 7.0 or later.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/cinch_grinch_aims_make_lastminute_gifts_loved_ones_snap#commentsNewsadviceApp StoreCinchCinch Grinchdr. seussfamilyfree appsgift buyingGift IdeasKloutloved onessuggestionsiPhoneTue, 17 Dec 2013 14:11:39 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18890 at http://www.maclife.com8 Apps for a Fantastic Thanksgiving Feasthttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_apps_fantastic_thanksgiving_feast
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u338318/2013/11/thanksgiving.png" width="620" height="548" /></p><p>Ah, Thanksgiving. A relaxing day full day of floats, football, family, and food, it may be the perfect holiday — that is, unless you're in charge of the meal. Any number of things can sink your supper, from a dry, overcooked bird to subpar side dishes. So if you're worried your meal won't be memorable, we've got eight apps that'll have you giving thanks for the App Store come Thursday.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_apps_fantastic_thanksgiving_feast#commentsGalleryAppLifeAppscookingdinnereatingfamilyfeastHolidayiOSiPod and iPhonemealThanksgivingTurkeyiPadiPhoneiPodTue, 26 Nov 2013 22:49:33 +0000Michael Simon18723 at http://www.maclife.com8 Apps to Help Keep Your Kids Safehttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_apps_help_keep_your_kids_safe
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u330237/2013/11/1114_sexoffendersearch.png" /></p><p>It's often said that there's nothing more rewarding than being a parent. However, bringing a child into the world is a huge responsibility, and knowing you'll someday have to expose that child to the contents of that world can be a scary proposition. You'll want to use all the resources at your disposal to keep your kid safe. To help you make the most of your mobile devices on this mission, we've collected eight apps that let you keep tabs on your children, communicate with them, protect them from potentially dangerous situations, and more. You can give your kids access to technology and seem like the cool parent when secretly it helps you know they're safe.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_apps_help_keep_your_kids_safe#commentsGalleryAppLifeAppsChildrenfamilyKidsparentsSafetySecurityiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 14 Nov 2013 23:54:13 +0000AJ Dellinger18624 at http://www.maclife.comEasy Studio - Animate with Shapes Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/easy_studio_animate_shapes_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Having your own animation studio on an iPad is a fantastic resource, no matter your age. However, the younger ones may find it difficult to grasp the principles behind stop motion animation using apps designed for more mature users. And if you wish you had the time to teach them, but don’t, luckily Easy Studio - Animate with Shapes is a fantastic resource designed to let young children learn as they go.<br /><br />Easy Studio is divided into two sections: Easy and Expert. The former is further broken down into six parts, with a tutorial and five progressively more difficult levels that show you how animating with shapes works. You'll be able to use a set number of them and follow the instructions as you move the shapes progressively them over time. However, once you’ve reached level 5, you’re ready to work unaided, and that last level offers you more shapes to play with plus a completely blank canvas.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/02/screen_22.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>If this still feels too limiting for you, jump to the Expert mode, where you’ll have access to 42 shapes that you can resize, rotate, and change color. It’s also possible to select multiple shapes at once and group them to make moving a much simpler process. Should you feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, there are six templates you can select, which luckily don't fully automate the process but still offer a helpful plan to place shapes onto. By default, the app records one image a second, but you can increase that to two or three per second to remove the obvious stuttering effect. Still, a low frame-rate makes animation quicker and more fun for the little ones.<br /><br />Each still you’ve taken remains editable along the way, and you can go back to any of them and tweak the animation at that stage. However, the lack of a true undo button is sorely missed, plus it's a shame that Easy Studio isn't as multitouch aware as some other creative apps are, as you anticipate being able to perform functions that it's not designed to handle. But considering the kid-friendly approach, simpler may prove smarter for the target audience here.<br /><strong><br />The bottom line.</strong> The hallmark of a great creation app is that it grows with you as your skills and confidence increase. Easy Studio - Animate with Shapes does just that, making it a stellar educational tool for kids and families alike.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/easy-studio-animate-shapes!/id593847174?mt=8" target="_blank">Easy Studio - Animate with Shapes 1.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Les Trois Elles </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.lestroiselles.com" target="_blank">http://www.lestroiselles.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$3.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPad running iOS 5.1 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Clever way of teaching stop-motion animation to youngsters. Friendly and non-intimidating interface. Complete flexibility, with the ability to edit previously taken shots.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Not multitouch aware for rotating a shape or selecting multiple objects. Rotate function can become annoying with continual use. No undo function.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/easy_studio_animate_shapes_review#commentsReviewsAnimate with Shapesapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsChildrenEasy StudioEducationfamilyKidsSoftwarestop motion animationiPadGalleryTue, 26 Feb 2013 23:59:40 +0000Steve Paris16328 at http://www.maclife.com8 iOS Games to Play with Your Familyhttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_ios_games_play_your_family
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u330237/2012/12/heroacademy_620.png" /></p><p>Between time off from work and school vacations around the holidays, you're bound to suddenly find yourself with some extra time to kill. It's a great time to hang out with your loved ones and find creative ways to have fun. Instead of venturing off to your own corner of the house, why not grab an iOS device and entice your loved ones into some quality family game time? Whether you prefer to roll with the classics or dive into newer gaming fare, there's plenty of variety and entertainment to go around in this killer list of game to play with your loved ones.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_ios_games_play_your_family#commentsGalleryAppLifeAppsfamilyHolidaysiOSFeaturesiPadiPhoneiPodGamesTue, 25 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000Nathan Meunier15869 at http://www.maclife.comJournalist Unearths Audio Interviews with Steve Jobs Spanning 25 Yearshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/journalist_unearths_audio_interviews_steve_jobs_spanning_25_years
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/steve_jobs_thoughtful_200px.jpg" alt="Steve Jobs" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Since the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs last year, interest in the tech pioneer’s life has accelerated. A journalist who interviewed Jobs extensively over the course of 25 years has recently unearthed audio recordings of those meetings which shed new light on the man, the myth and the legend.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/04/18/found_steve_jobs_interviews_show_pivotal_growth_during_years_away_from_apple.html" target="_blank">AppleInsider is reporting</a> on new audio recordings of Steve Jobs recently unearthed by journalist Rob Schlender, who has <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/165/steve-jobs-legacy-tapes" target="_blank">published “select stories and snippets” from the interviews on the Fast Company website</a>. Recorded over a 25-year span of time, the interviews reveal how Jobs matured during his so-called “wilderness years” outside Apple.<br /><br />"Many [of the tapes] I had never replayed -- a couple hadn't even been transcribed before now," Schlender writes. "Some were interrupted by his kids bolting into the kitchen as we talked. During others, he would hit the pause button himself before saying something he feared might come back to bite him."<br /><br />After being famously cast aside at Apple in 1985, Jobs founded NeXT and purchased Pixar, two experiences that would prove vital when he returned to Apple more than a decade later. Having a family would also prove to be an important part in Jobs’ leadership skills as well.<br /><br />"In hindsight, Jobs's having a real family might have been the best thing to happen to Pixar,” Schlender notes. “He was most effective as a marketer and a business leader when he could think of himself as the primary customer.”<br /><br />Schlender had “hours of source material” with Jobs, which have been pared down to notable quotes, such as Jobs claiming to have modeled his own management style after one of his favorite bands, The Beatles.<br /><br />"The reason I say that is because each of the key people in the Beatles kept the others from going off in the directions of their bad tendencies," Jobs explained. "It was the chemistry of a small group of people, and that chemistry was greater than the sum of the parts."<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/journalist_unearths_audio_interviews_steve_jobs_spanning_25_years#commentsNewsApple Inc.audio recordingsfamilyfast companyinterviewsManagementNeXTPixarSteve Jobsthe beatlesWed, 18 Apr 2012 12:54:15 +0000J.R. Bookwalter13855 at http://www.maclife.comHow to Record Your Family History http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_record_your_family_history
<!--paging_filter--><h3>Make a complete record of your ancestors with this powerful genealogy tool</h3><h3>What You’ll Need:</h3> <p>&gt;&gt; Mac OS X 10.5+<br />&gt;&gt; MacFamilyTree<br />&gt;&gt; 15 Minutes</p> <p><strong>Difficulty: Easy</strong></p> <p>The speed with which we lose touch with our own family history is amazing. Digging deep into the building blocks of what makes up your DNA can quickly become compulsive as you rediscover ancestors long forgotten and uncover the occasional exciting – scandalous even – tidbit along the way.<br /><br />The question is, what do you do with all the information, evidence, photos, audio recordings and video that you uncover? The answer lies with <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fmacfamilytree%252Fid402390872%253Fmt%253D12%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30" target="_blank">MacFamilyTree</a>, a powerful tool that enables you to not just build your tree, but bring together all of the disparate resources you’ve compiled in a logical, practical way. Record the facts of an ancestor’s life, then flesh out the raw details with all the extra information you uncover using MacFamilyTree’s notes tool.<br /><br />Finally, import your media (including scanned documents), link them to the appropriate individuals, family members and even specific events, and you have a complete record of your family history. You can also share it using MacFamilyTree’s impressive selection of charting, reporting and exporting tools.<br /><br />That’s all to come. For now you want to get started, and version 6 of MacFamilyTree makes the process of building your tree easier than ever. Launch MacFamilyTree and click New Family Tree under Options. <br /><br />You’ll be directed to choose Family Tree view from the left – click this, followed by the Add a new person button to start the process of building your tree. Start by entering your own name and gender, then switch to the Person Events tab and click Add. By default, birth is selected, so enter birth date and place details and click Done.<br /><br />Next, roll the mouse over your entry in the tree and select Add Spouse from the options that appear. Enter your spouse’s basic details like your own and click Done. Now roll the mouse over the link between you and your spouse and you’ll see a pencil icon appear: clicking this allows you to add details about your own family. Start by clicking Add to enter the details of your wedding if applicable.<br /><br />With your tree taking root, follow the step-by-step guide to populate it with your family’s full history.</p><h3>How to put your family photos in context</h3><p><img src="/files/u307916/2012/Online/MacFormatHowTos/mac00.jpg" width="620" height="300" /></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_record_your_family_history#commentsApp StoreAppLifefamilymac app storeMacHow-TosGalleryTue, 20 Dec 2011 20:47:55 +0000Nick Peers12942 at http://www.maclife.com5 Ways to Spruce Up Holiday Photos with Photoshophttp://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/5_ways_spruce_holiday_photos_photoshop
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/sveta_ben_0816_620px.png" alt="Santa Benji surprised" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>You’ll soon be up to your eyeballs in photos taken over the holiday season -- and not all of them are likely to be worth sharing with family and friends. While there are many options for enhancing photos, the original is still one of the best: Adobe Photoshop. So without further ado, here’s a look at five ways to beautify those digital images before you hand them out to loved ones.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/red_eye_one_fixed_620px.png" alt="Red eye removal fixed" width="620" height="300" /></p><h3>Fix ‘Em Up First</h3><p>Before you start dressing up holiday photos, you should first make them presentable with a few traditional techniques. It’s often best to work on a copy of your file, so after opening an image, use Image &gt; Duplicate then File &gt; Save As and start editing. If you plan to print images in a standard size such as 4x6 inches, use the Crop tool to cut out unwanted portions of the image right out of the gate. You’ll want to use “6 in” for width, “4 in” for height and for print go with 300 dpi, regardless of original image resolution.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/auto_color_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Auto Color" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />For most images, you can achieve a good color and exposure automatically by selecting Image &gt; Auto Color; if you don’t like Photoshop’s auto color balance, use Edit &gt; Undo, then try Image &gt; Auto Contrast for an exposure change without tweaking the overall color. For more control, select Edit &gt; Adjustments &gt; Levels (or Command-L), where you can click Auto to have Photoshop give it a try or use the sliders to adjust the input levels. Move the left slider toward the right for more contrast; the middle slider will adjust overall brightness in either direction.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/red_eye_tool_circled_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Red Eye Tool" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />Red eyes are frequently the bane of flash photography, but thankfully, you can eradicate them with ease in recent versions of Photoshop. Press the J key to select the touch-up tools, then Control-click to select Red Eye Tool. Adjust the Pupil Size and Darken Amount if necessary, then click on those offending red eyes -- one at a time -- to watch them go bye-bye.<br /><br />Finally, beautify subjects with the Spot Healing Brush. Press the J key again, then Control-click to select Spot Healing Brush Tool. Adjust the brush size accordingly and start clicking on areas with dust, skin blemishes or other unwanted defects to remove them like magic.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/selective_color_after_620px.png" alt="Selective Color" width="620" height="300" /></p><h3>Selective Color</h3><p>One of the most popular ways to spruce up almost any photo these days is through the use of selective color -- basically, desaturating everything in an image except for one or two things you want viewers to focus on. This technique works great with holiday photos that use Christmas ornaments, Santa hats and other familiar seasonal props.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/quick_selection_tool_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Quick Selection Tool" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />After choosing a subject, press the W key, then Control-click and choose the Quick Select Tool (assuming it isn’t already selected). Choose the area where you want to retain color.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/layer_via_copy_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Layer via Copy" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Now, right-click the selection and select “Layer via Copy,” which creates a new layer containing your subject which has been separated from the rest of the image.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/desaturate_selected_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Desaturate" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />Finally, select the original background layer and choose Image &gt; Adjustments &gt; Desaturate, which makes everything except the separated layer black and white. If you’d like more than one area to remain color, simply undo and copy those areas to new layers the same way, then desaturate the background image once again. When finished, use Layer &gt; Flatten Image to merge the layer(s) into the background and save as a new file.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/benji_santa_with_snowflakes_620px.png" alt="Benji Santa with snowflakes added" width="620" height="300" /></p><h3>Add Snowflakes to Images</h3><p>Nothing makes a holiday photo festive like adding a little favor of the season -- in this case, snowflakes!</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/new_for_snowflakes_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: New document" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>To create your own, use File &gt; New to create a new document and make sure Background Contents is set to White. The width, height and resolution are dependent upon the image you plan to paste the snowflakes onto, but two or three hundred pixels at 72 dpi should be fine for most uses.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/custom_shape_tool_selected_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Custom Shape Tool" width="620" height="301" /><br /><br />Next, press Shift+U to switch to the Rectangle tool, click and hold, then select Custom Shape Tool from the contextual menu that pops up. Control-click anywhere to bring up the Shape picker, click on the small triangle in the upper left corner and select Nature; click OK when asked if you want to replace or append the current shapes.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/snowflake_patterns_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Snowflake shapes" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Scroll through the Nature shapes until you find the snowflake; there will be three different shapes together in the same row. Select the first one, “Snowflake 1,” and hit Return on the keyboard.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/fill_pixels_option_bar_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Fill Pixels" width="621" height="301" /></p><p>Now click on the Fill Pixels icon in the Options bar, which will allow us to use the snowflake shape as a brush.</p><p>Press the D key to reset Photoshop’s Foreground and Background color to default settings, which makes Foreground black. This is required for making our snowflake into a brush. Click in the center of your document window, drag outward and hold down the Shift-Option keys as you do -- you’ll need to drag first before using these keys, otherwise you’ll switch to the Eyedropper tool by accident. The Shift key will constrain your snowflake to the proper aspect ratio, while the Option key expands it from the shape from its center.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/brush_name_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Name brush" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />Once you’ve filled the frame with a snowflake, release the mouse button and then the keys. Trim excess white background from around the snowflake using the Crop Tool. Select Edit &gt; Define Brush Preset and name your first snowflake something appropriate. Click OK and you can discard the document without saving. Now repeat this process for the other two shapes so you’ll have three different snowflakes to work with.<br /><br />Open the image you want to decorate with snowflakes, select the one of the new brushes you’ve made (Shift+B), adjust to appropriate size, change the Foreground color to a nice, frosty white and use the brush as a stamp, adding snowflakes wherever they’ll spice up your photo. For variety, change the transparency and size of some snowflakes or even rotate them to give the illusion of depth and motion.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/benji_santa_with_new_background_620px.png" alt="Benji Santa with North Pole background" width="620" height="300" /></p><h3>Spice Up Image Backgrounds</h3><p>They say variety is the spice of life, and holiday photos are no exception. If you’d like to spice up a holiday family photo or simply remove an undesirable background from an otherwise decent image, Photoshop is happy to oblige.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/north_pole_-_google_search_620px.png" alt="Google Image Search for North Pole" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />First, you’ll want to select a new background to add to the existing image. Since we’re doing this strictly for personal use, this can be from just about anywhere -- a <a href="http://images.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Image Search</a> can usually turn up plenty of choices by simply typing in a few keywords for what you seek. (If you plan to print your final image, you’ll want to consider royalty-free stock photos instead.) Be sure to click “Large” under Any Size at left so you’ll be selecting only images that will match the resolution of your original photo (or close to it, anyway).</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/safari_save_image_as_620px.png" alt="Safari: Save Image As" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>When you find one you like, download it by using Control-click in Safari 5 and selecting “Save Image As.” Give it a distinctive name and click OK.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/layer_from_background_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Layer From Background" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />Next, load up your original photo in Photoshop. Select Layer &gt; New &gt; Background from Layer and click OK (you can optionally name the layer first if you’d like), which allows you to select certain areas we want to keep and remove the rest, leaving a transparent background where we can insert our stock photo. There are many ways to make this selection in Photoshop, but we’ll use press the W key and use the Quick Select Tool.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/benji_santa_selected_with_refine_edge_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Refine Edge" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />With a decent-sized brush of 50 to 100 pixels (depending upon the area you're selecting), begin drawing inside the areas you want to keep -- likely the image of you and your family, in this case. Depending on the background, you may need to hold down the Option key while making a quick selection to remove any areas that the application has selected by mistake. Once your subject(s) are surrounded by the “marching ants” of the Quick Select Tool, you can choose Select &gt; Refine Edge to adjust the edges of the selection using smooth, feather, contrast and other options as necessary.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/file__place_menu_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Place" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />When you’re happy with the selection, choose Select &gt; Inverse and press the Delete key. Now, the existing background will be removed, leaving only the subject(s) you have selected. Choose File &gt; Place, browse for your new background image and resize accordingly (hold the Shift key to retain proper aspect ratio), then press Return to commit the change. Finally, you’ll need to move the new background layer below the original in order to see your subjects laid out against the new one. To keep the layered image, save as a PSD file; otherwise, choose Layer &gt; Flatten Image to flatten the file and save in whatever format you’d like.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/thor_christmas_lights_glow_620px.png" alt="Christmas lights with extra glow" width="620" height="300" /></p><h3>Give Christmas Lights An Extra Glow</h3><p>Low-wattage Christmas lights can often make for tricky photography when taken in a brightly lit room. If you prefer to give them some extra zing, Photoshop comes to the rescue with the Outer Glow selection.</p><p>Before you get started, finish up any other adjustments you want to make to the image, such as color saturation or overall exposure levels. Once you’ve got it looking the way you’d like, select the Lasso tool (Shift+L) and start encircling all of the Christmas lights that have the same color (hold down the Shift key for multiple selections). Don’t worry about steady hands and making an exact selection, as long as the lights are lasso’ed, you’ll be fine.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/select__modify__feather_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Feather" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />With all the lights of a single color selected, go to Select &gt; Modify &gt; Feather and enter a reasonably low number: two or three for lower resolution photos, five or six for higher megapixel images. Now copy the lights to a new layer by selecting Command-J.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/layer__layer_style__outer_glow_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Outer Glow" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>With the new layer selected, select Layer &gt; Layer Style &gt; Outer Glow from the menu.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/outer_glow_color_picker_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Color Picker" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />From the Layer Style window, click on the color box in the Structure section as shown here and change it to something similar to the color of your selected Christmas light -- yellow for yellow, green for green, red for red and so on. You can get a good match by choosing the eyedropper from the color picker and clicking on one of the lights to sample that color, then click OK to commit to it.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/layer_style_spread_and_size_620px.png" alt="Photoshop: Spread and Size" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />Finally, adjust the Spread and Size options under Elements in the Layer Style window until you’re happy with the amount of extra glow surrounding your Christmas light. Make sure Preview is checked so you can see the changes as you make them. Click OK, return to the original Background layer and repeat for the next color and soon you’ll have the brightest bulbs in all of town. When finished, flatten the layers (Layer &gt; Flatten Image) and save.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/5_ways_spruce_holiday_photos_photoshop#commentsAdobe PhotoshopChristmasfamilyfriendsholiday seasonimage editingPhotosPhotoshoptips and tricksMacHow-TosThu, 15 Dec 2011 19:41:40 +0000J.R. Bookwalter12939 at http://www.maclife.comStarting August 21, AT&T Text Messaging Will Be Unlimited or Per-Use Onlyhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/starting_august_21_att_text_messaging_will_be_unlimited_or_peruse_only
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/att_sms_update_aug21_200px.jpg" alt="AT&amp;T text messaging screenshot" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />If you’re an infrequent texter with a commitment to AT&amp;T, you may want to reevaluate your usage starting this weekend -- that’s when Ma Bell kills off everything except unlimited and per-use text messaging fees in an effort to “streamline” their offerings. Is that marketing speak for “soak our customer”?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/atandt-streamlining-individual-messaging-plans-august-21st-leavin/" target="_blank">Engadget is reporting</a> that August 21 may be a day of infamy where text messaging on AT&amp;T is concerned. According to a leaked screenshot “confirmed by multiple sources” (and later, by AT&amp;T themselves), there will be exactly two text messaging plans for customers beginning Sunday, and both of them are unlimited. Gone is the ability to buy X number of text messages for X number of dollars -- you either pay up for each one or indulge in an unlimited plan, which is overkill for many users.<br /><br />The good news is, existing users of the soon to be defunct $10 for 1,000 text messaging plan are grandfathered in, so you can continue to enjoy those single penny SMS or MMS messages for the foreseeable future. For everyone else, the line has been drawn in the sand -- you either pay per use (20 cents for SMS, 30 cents for MMS) or go all you can eat ($20 for individual plans, $30 for family plans).<br /><br />"We regularly evaluate our offers and are making some adjustments to our messaging lineup,” an AT&amp;T spokesperson confirmed to Engadget overnight. “Starting August 21, we're streamlining our text messaging plans for new customers and will offer an unlimited plan for individuals for $20 per month and an unlimited plan for families of up to five lines for $30 per month. The vast majority of our messaging customers prefer unlimited plans and with text messaging growth stronger than ever, that number continues to climb among new customers. Existing customers don't have to change any messaging plan they have today, even when changing handsets."<br /><br />It’s kind of a bummer, but looking on the bright side, those unlimited text messaging plans also come with AT&amp;T’s unlimited mobile-to-mobile deal so you can call free of charge to any other carrier’s customers, eating up your bucket of minutes strictly for chatting with the few, the proud still wired into a landline. Or you could simply hold out a bit longer and ditch text messaging altogether when Apple launches iOS 5 and go with iMessage -- assuming all of your peeps are also rockin’ iPhones, that is.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy of Engadget)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/starting_august_21_att_text_messaging_will_be_unlimited_or_peruse_only#commentsNewsAT&Tchangesfamilymmspay per useplanssmsSMS messagingtext messagingunlimitediPhoneThu, 18 Aug 2011 12:24:24 +0000J.R. Bookwalter12088 at http://www.maclife.comNeer App Helps Organize Your Busy Family Lifehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/neer_app_helps_organize_your_busy_family_life
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/neer_app_200px.jpg" alt="Neer app" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />If you’ve ever struggled to figure out if your spouse is on the way home from work or if the kids got picked up from school or where the kids are hanging out today, a new app called Neer may help you sort it all out.<br /><br /><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/qualcomm-services-labs-inc/id384779732" target="_blank">Qualcomm Services Labs, Inc.</a> has released a new app called <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neer/id408503185?mt=8" target="_blank">Neer</a> this week, dubbed as “the world’s first-of-its-kind location-sharing app” to help keep you in touch with family and friends “without lifting a finger or having to answer your phone.” The free app is currently only for the iPhone 4 and fourth-generation iPod touch during its beta period.<br /><br />“Neer is the must-have, mobile phone location-based service designed with today’s modern family in mind,” the app description reads. “Neer offers trusted and automatic location sharing to answer those simple, everyday family questions: ‘Have you left work yet?’ ‘Did the kids get picked up?’ ‘Did you stop at the grocery store on your way home?’ Neer saves you time by automatically providing answers in a secure, intuitive, and fun-to-use app.”<br /><br />The app works by defining locations in advance, such as Home, Office, School or Grocery Store. As your iOS device-carrying family members move around, you can quickly and easily see where they’re at throughout the day, thanks to GPS technology. Qualcomm claims that Neer “uses all the features of your smartphone to dynamically sense your location, eliminating the phone calls or text messages needed to synchronize the day.”<br /><br /><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neer/id408503185?mt=8" target="_blank">Neer</a> is a free 1.9MB download from the App Store and requires an iPhone 4 or fourth-generation iPod touch with iOS 4.1 or later during the beta period; a version for Android is also available for cross-platform families.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/neer_app_helps_organize_your_busy_family_life#commentsNewsApp Storefamilylocation servicessocial networkingiPhoneiPodFri, 24 Dec 2010 13:01:55 +0000J.R. Bookwalter9339 at http://www.maclife.comKeep Tabs on Your Dysfunctional Family via iPhonehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/keep_tabs_your_dysfunctional_family_iphone
<!--paging_filter--><p><img alt="Family Tracker" class="graphic-right" height="302" src="/files/u220903/Family_tracker_screen_big.jpg" width="200" /><br />Paranoia and distrust among family members is sure to escalate, thanks to a new iPhone and iPod touch app that promises to let you keep tabs on your loved ones.<br /><br />LogSat Software, the App Store developers responsible for the popular <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sex-offenders-search/id321170961?mt=8" target="_blank">Sex Offenders Search</a> app, are back -- and this time, with a potentially even more controversial app for the iPhone and iPod touch. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/family-tracker/id349880412?mt=8" target="_blank">Family Tracker</a> allows you to track your husband, wife, children or even fianceé, all from the comfort of your handheld device. Paranoia, distrust and suspicion? Yep, there’s finally an app for that.<br /><br />Shockingly, Family Tracker is described in this straightforward, manner-of-fact way on the App Store: “Your husband tells you he’s going to be late tonight due to a business meeting. Is he really at the office, or is he having dinner somewhere else? Your wife told you she is going out shopping with her girlfriends at the mall. Is she really there or is she with her gym teacher? Your kids tell you that they are staying late with friends to study for their test. Are they really there, or did they go out partying?<br /><br />“No more lies or excuses!” the app description promises. “You can now find out where they are, at anytime, as long as they have their iPhones with them.”<br /><br />Worse yet, the app developers seem to think this all comes down to a matter of convenience: “With our busy lives, sometimes we don’t have time to answer the phone and/or write an SMS text to our spouse/parents,” developer Roberto Franceschetti states in a press release for the app. “With Family Tracker, we can let them know we are ‘OK’ by just turning on the iPhone screen.”<br /><br />The app is apparently already off to a bang with like-minded controlling parents, too. One review already in the App Store was written by a father named “TheiPhoneJunkie” who proclaims, “I just forced my [teenaged] son to install this on his iPhone. If he deletes it he’ll be grounded and will loose [sic] his iPhone privileges… I want to see now how he’s going to find an excuse when we catch him in a lie!”<br /><br /><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/family-tracker/id349880412?mt=8" target="_blank">Family Tracker is now available</a> on the App Store for $4.99, compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch and requires iPhone OS 3.1.2 or later. Family dysfunction is optional, but highly recommended.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/keep_tabs_your_dysfunctional_family_iphone#commentsNewsApp StorefamilyGPSiPhoneMon, 25 Jan 2010 19:24:24 +0000J.R. Bookwalter5826 at http://www.maclife.com